August 16, 2020

This happened in our house … it had been a long, busy day. Phone rings - urgent crisis just as we thought the day should be coming to an end. Crisis addressed, everyone safe and needs provided as required and we are home for the evening and dinner 8:30 PM. Sound familiar? I know we are not the only ones who have these opportunities. Truth is, we are blessed by them, and believe that is why God has called us into this ministry.

But the human part says, I am tired, I am hungry, and what kind of brain numbing movie can we find on the TV!! You should understand we rarely watch anything on TV … but COVID 19 and long days make exceptions! A movie is chosen, the rating missed, dinner is ready, and we are all curled up in the appropriate chairs to watch. The actors are well known, story line is good, enough sappy for the girls, enough action for the guys. Oops – that was some offensive language … ok, that was for effect, it will get better … oops … again, and worse.

Long story short, we watched the whole movie, to the predictable ending. A few comments … “maybe we should have turned it off,” and a night’s rest. In the morning, the conversation … The language was offensive, women were denigrated, God was mocked, marriage was ridiculed, demons were uplifted, inappropriate sex was given a green light … and folks this was not a BAD movie. Just an average film designed to entertain. But how easy it is to fall into that trap … to fall into the worldview culture we are living in.

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 John 2.15-17

My point – most of us do not plan to sin. We want to please God and follow His commandments. But when we are not clothed in the armor of God, when we are not covered in prayer, when we take our eyes off Jesus, it is all to easy to slip into the ways of the world. We end up giving God what we want to give Him, not what He has asked of us. Spaghetti – not steak!

This world can be difficult, but we have a Helper to guide us through. This world is not our home … we have an eternal home with Him.

Love each of you, Prayers for each, and Glory to the God Most High!

Pastor Deb